Great Happy Hour Specials

Grand Happy Hour

The Grand Lux Café at the Beverly Center offers a daily $5 drink special on Mondays through Fridays from 4:00 to 6:30pm. On Thursdays, the bar offers a passion fruit margarita and Fridays they serve a rum typhoon.  Selected well drinks and wines are $5, while selected draft beers are only $4.  Many of their appetizers are $5, such as the stacked chicken quesadilla, crispy Thai shrimp & chicken spring rolls and Asian nachos, however certain mini bites and tapas are under $4.

I’ve tried the beautiful beet and ricotta salad with fresh oranges and hazelnuts and the fried pickles with a tasty remoulade sauce ($3.95 each) For an additional $1, the artichoke, tomato and arugula rustic pizza is a great deal at $4.95.  To finish, order a box of homemade and baked-to-order chocolate chip and pecan cookies to munch on for a sweet treat. 121 N. La Cienega Blvd. (310) 855-1122.

Ditch Day Fridays

The pool at the Hotel Shangri-La heats up every Friday from 1:00pm to 7:00pm with $5 “Ditch Day” cocktails and live entertainment. Guests can snack on the popular deviled eggs platter featuring 3 different kinds: curry, chipotle, and black truffle.

After 7:00pm, the outdoor dining room, The Courtyard, serves new creative dishes that Executive Chef Dakota Weiss prepares each week after finding items at the local farmers markets.

This month the Shangri-La kicks off the summer with the grand opening of Santa Monica’s re-branded rooftop bar and lounge, Suite 700.  The outdoor terrace offers plush lounge seating, fire pits and music.  Menu items include octopus carpaccio with salted lemon and smoked paprika; drunken watermelon with bay shrimp and avocado espuma (culinary term for foam); and lamb loin with Medjool dates and a spicy-sweet piquillo pepper sauce. Located at 1301 Ocean Ave., (877)999-1300.

BLT Steak – $5 at 5

From 5:00 to 7:00pm, BLT features five food items, a specialty cocktail, draught beer and wine for $5 each. Menu items include BBQ short rib gnocco with pomodoro and pea tendrils, Gruyere mac & cheese with bacon and truffle, and crispy fanny oysters with fennel slaw and yuzu aioli. 8720 Sunset Blvd. (310)360-1950.

Hawaiian Happy Hour

Sip Roy’s original Hawaiian martini for only $5 during their Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6:30pm Sunday through Fridays.  This specialty cocktail starts with fresh Maui pineapples, SKYY Vodka, Stoli Vanilla Vodka, and Malibu Coconut Rum shaken and served with fresh pineapple.  For another $5, nibble on a tempura crusted spicy ahi roll served with Miso butter sauce or Szechwan grilled beef tenderloin skewers. 800 South Figueroa Street, (213)488-4994.

Happy Hour in Santa Monica

Copa d’Oro offers a “Happy Depression” menu on Mondays through Saturdays from 5:00 to 8:00pm with $5 cocktails and $6 paninis. Try a handcrafted libation created by Partner/Head Barman, Vincenzo Marianella.  Some of his favorites to make are the aviation (gin maraschino liqueur and fresh lemon juice), Jack Rose (applejack, fresh lime juice, and homemade grenadine), and the Moscow mule (vodka, fresh lime juice, homemade ginger beer). 217 Broadway Street, Santa Monica, (310)576-3030.

Italian Weeknight Winefest

Culina is having a twist to the traditional happy hour from Sunday through Thursday at 5:00 to 7:00pm.  Chef Victor Casanova will prepare complimentary antipasti for guests while they sip $6 wines by the glass curated by sommelier Brick Loomis.  Wines will change weekly, focusing on value-oriented regions and wineries of Italy. 300 South Doheny Drive, (310)860-4000.

Boxed Lunch Specials

Napa Valley Grille in Westwood Village is offering a new Boxed Lunch program priced from $10.75 – $13.75. Ideal for a beach picnic, the Hollywood Bowl or a midday hike.

Executive Chef Joseph Gillard prepares wine country-inspired meals that include a Russian River menu: shrimp salad sandwich with poached white shrimp, fine herbs, buttermilk dressing and shaved cabbage on a soft herb roll.  Served with a sweet pea salad with butter lettuce and green goddess dressing, homemade Napa potato chips and summer fruit trifle ($13.75) or a Stag’s Leap menu with slow-roasted rare prime beef sandwich with bacon, red onion jam, creamy horseradish, and smoked cheddar cheese on pretzel bread.  The sandwich is boxed with roasted red fingerling potato salad, homemade Napa potato chips and a black and white cookie ($12.75). Pastry Chef Manuel Ortega prepares mini éclairs with Cordillera dark chocolate-brandy cream, bourbon pecan bars, and white chocolate coconut cookies.  Orders can only be placed by calling (310)824-3322. 1100 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles.

Lunch at Hatfield’s

A three-course prix fixe lunch is now available at Hatfield’s for $19. Some of the items on the continuously changing menu are carrot ginger soup, slow roasted pork loin with celery root purée, ruby grapefruit and celery root salad and a grapefruit lillet. Served Monday – Friday from 11:45am to 2:15pm. 6703 Melrose Ave. (323)935-2977.

Learn to Bake Like a Pro

Bakelab, a wholesale and retail bakery in Inglewood, presents its first annual baking series on Saturday, June 26 at 1:00pm.  The first class – Cookie Party, teaches students a little about the science of making homemade cookies taste better than ever. In this demonstration class, Kristin Feuer, a graduate from Le Cordon Bleu and founder of Bakelab will give students a copy of her cookie tips to take home. RSVP to hello@thebakelab.com. 705 Vesta Street, Inglewood, (310) 330-0955.

Summer Fling Kabuki

A new summer menu at Kabuki features new appetizers, sushi rolls, entrees and specialty sake cocktails. Entrees from Executive Chef Masa Kurihara include Mediterranean sea bass with Kabuki tomato salsa, corn, asparagus, and Japanese mint leaf ($14.95). For sushi, there is a new Baja roll with tomato salsa on a spicy krab roll ($6.95) or the Vegas roll of deep fried cream cheese, salmon and krab meat ($8.95). Master Sake Sommelier Yuji Matsumoto prepares exotic drinks using sake and soju.  One of his specialties is the matsu mojito, made with sake, soju and a choice of plum wine or yuzu. There are 10 Kabuki restaurants in the Southern California area.  In Hollywood, Kabuki is located at 1545 N. Vine Street. (323)464-6033.

Kids Eat Free at Pasta Pomodoro

Every Tuesday, kids 12 and under eat free all day at Pasta Pomodoro.  Some of the dishes kids enjoy are mini chicken parmigiana, pizza, and cheesy pasta.  For finicky eaters, kids can build their own penne, spaghetti, or ravioli pasta, and top it with tomato, cream, butter or cheese sauce. Meatballs can be added to the dish. Milk, apple juice or soda and a chocolate sundae are included. 7100 Santa Monica Blvd #150 West Hollywood, (323) 969-8000.www.pastapomodoro.com.